Different types of ghosts

Halloween is fast approaching, so today I’d like to introduce some different types of ghosts! There are many synonyms for the word “ghost” in English and each has its own nuance. I will add dictionary definitions below along with comments related to each word’s connotations in popular culture and the media. (A “connotation” is “an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.”)

Spirit: a supernatural being or essence

The word “spirit” has many meanings. However, while it can refer to other supernatural beings, such as faeries, it most often refers to a ghost. Because “spirit” is a fairly neutral word, an adjective may be used to determine the type of spirit, such as a “malevolent/evil spirit” or a “kindly/benign spirit.” It is perhaps the most common synonym for ghost.

Soul: A part of humans regarded as immaterial, immortal, and separable from the body at death

The word “soul” is complex, but when a person dies and their soul remains as a ghost, it may be referred to as a “lost soul,” a “wandering soul,” or a “lingering soul.” In most movies, games, etc., souls appear as ghost-like beings which can float and fly around. The word “soul” is often used to refer to ancestors who return to visit the world of the living during certain days/events in various cultures/traditions. 

Wraith: a ghost or ghostlike image of someone, especially one seen shortly before or after their death

The word “wraith” often makes people think of an evil ghost, like the “ring-wraiths” from The Lord of the Rings. “Wraith” sounds both dangerous and cool, and it may be used as a nickname by people (such as air force pilots or pro gamers) or as part of a name for dangerous things, such as military vehicles (like fighter jets) or weapons (like missiles) that are deadly and/or hard to detect.

Haunt: a ghost; a place habitually frequented

The word “haunt” is rarely used as a noun to mean “ghost.” Rather, it is most often used as a verb to mean “to visit or inhabit as a ghost.” Ghosts may “haunt” old, abandoned houses or other spooky places, such as graveyards. Ghosts can “haunt” (follow/visit) or “possess” (take control of) people. As a noun, “haunt” most often refers to a place that is frequently visited. For example, if there is a particular neighbourhood that you like to visit and you often go there, it is one of your “haunts.”

Spook: (informal) ghost; specter

The word “spook” sounds a little silly or childish and may be used very generically in kids’ shows and Halloween advertising. It doesn’t sound very scary. However, it is also used informally to refer to spies (e.g. a CIA spook).

Specter: a ghost; a visible disembodied spirit 

Aside from being a synonym for “ghost,” the word “specter” is often used as a metaphor for “something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or dangerous occurrence,” such as “the specter of war.” It is something that “haunts” society or the human mind. As a result, “specter” sounds threatening, like a lingering fear that is hard to escape from.  

Banshee (or wailing spirit): (in Irish legend) a female spirit whose wailing warns of an impending death in a house

“Banshees” are known for their wail/scream, so the expression “wail/scream like a banshee” is used to describe a very loud, high-pitched, and unsettling scream (usually made by a terrified person or a very upset child). 

Revenant: a person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead

The word “revenant” comes from the French word “revenir” (to come back) and can refer simply to a person who has returned after a long absence or to a person who returns as a spirit after death. It is not a very common word these days.

Phantom/Phantasm: a ghost; a figment of the imagination

You may know the word “phantom” from “The Phantom of the Opera.” A “phantom” or “phantasm” refers to an illusion or something that you may only see in your mind or imagination. It is used to describe “something that you imagine exists or that appears to exist, although in fact it does not.” 

Well, that’s probably enough for now! As you can see, there are many words for “ghost” in English, each with its own nuance. Keep an eye out for these words in movies, games, and TV shows, especially as Halloween approaches!